Rory McIlroy is closing in on the career grand slam after surging into a two-shot lead over Bryson DeChambeau on day three at The Masters.
McIlroy, 35, started Saturday's third round two shots off the pace but he soon raced to the front when playing the first three holes in 4-under par.
The World No.2 drained a 12-footer for birdie at the par- 4 1st, chipped in for eagle on the par-5 2nd and then knocked down an eight-footer for birdie on the par-4 3rd.
McIlroy then sent home another birdie from 20 feet at the tough par-4 5th before tucking away a seven-footer for par on the par-3 6th, which saw him become the first player in Masters history to start a round with six consecutive threes on the card.
But he would carelessly hand back a shot at the par-5 8th when finding trouble off the tee, and then another went when three-putting from 50 feet at the 10th.
McIlroy steadied the ship with pars at 11 and 12, but he would restore his two-shot lead when getting up and down for birdie at the par-5 13th.
The Ulsterman made par at 14 and he then slammed home a second eagle of the day from eight feet at the par-5 15th to move into a four-shot lead.
Eagle on No. 15 launches Rory McIlroy into a four-shot lead. #themasters pic.twitter.com/ri6fA5yO7O
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 12, 2025
But LIV Golf superstar Bryson DeChambeau trimmed the deficit to two shots late in the day with three birdies on the last four holes to card a 69.
DeChambeau made a stunning birdie putt from some 40 feet on 18 that brought the patrons to their knees.
McIlroy made pars to the house to fire a second consecutive round of 66 and he finds himself at 12-under par for 54 holes and two shots clear of DeChambeau heading into Sunday's final round.
It marks McIlroy's first 54-hole lead at a major since 2014.
Rory McIlroy vs Bryson DeChambeau for The Masters 🍿 who takes home the Green Jacket? 🤔
— GolfMagic (@GolfMagic) April 12, 2025
McIlroy needs to win The Masters on Sunday to become just the sixth player in the modern era to complete the career grand slam.
The Northern Irishman is looking to join golf legends Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods in the record books.
McIlroy has not won a major since the 2014 US PGA.
Meanwhile, DeChambeau is going in search of a third career major and first Masters.
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The final-round showdown between McIlroy and DeChambeau is a replica of the 2024 U.S. Open where the LIV Golf superstar pipped the PGA Tour superstar to a second U.S. Open title last summer, albeit they weren't paired together that time around.
Elsewhere on day three at The Masters, Canada's Corey Conners played alongside McIlroy and went round in 70 to nudge himself up to 8-under par in solo third.
Patrick Reed and Ludvig Aberg also pushed themselves up into the top five but they lie six shots behind McIlroy entering Sunday.
World No.1 Scottie Scheffler had a third round to forget though and went round in 72 to remain 5-under par, which is just inside the top 10.
Here's a look at the leading contenders heading into Sunday at The Masters:
1 | Rory McIlroy | -12 | F |
2 | Bryson DeChambeau | -10 | F |
3 | Corey Conners | -8 | F |
T4 | Patrick Reed | -6 | F |
T4 | Ludvig Aberg | -6 | F |
T6 | Jason Day | -5 | F |
T6 | Scottie Scheffler | -5 | F |
T6 | Shane Lowry | -5 | F |
T6 | Justin Rose | -5 | F |
Scroll down this page for live updates from the third round of The Masters.
McIlroy -10 (9), Rose -7 (8)
McIlroy misses a golden chance for birdie on the par-4 9th.
The World No.2 left himself a five-footer above the hole but slid the putt past on the left side.
It's a par for McIlroy, who remains out in front at 10-under par.
He's two clear of DeChambeau as he heads into the back nine.
Rose has just sent a birdie down on the par-5 8th to move back into a tie for third on 7-under par alongside Conners.
DeChambeau -8 (8)
DeChambeau pummels two great shots to find the green in two shots at the par-5 8th.
He two-putts from 20 feet for birdie to move to 8-under par.
That's just two back of McIlroy now.
McIlroy -10, Conners -6 (8)
McIlroy makes his first bogey of the round at the par-5 8th.
He found the fairway bunker from the tee and was forced to lay well back from there.
McIlroy then made a complete mess of things around the green by failing to get up and down for par.
A bogey drops McIlroy to 10-under par and three shots ahead of DeChambeau and Lowry.
Conners, playing alongside McIlroy, makes birdie to nudge up to 6-under par.
DeChambeau -7, Rose -6 (7)
It's bogeys all round for the final pairing as DeChambeau and Rose both make bogeys.
DeChambeau is back to 7-under par in a tie for second alongside Lowry.
Rose slips back into a tie for fourth on 6-under par.
McIlroy -11, Conners -5 (6)
We mentioned Rory was short with his tee shot. He's some 50ft from the pin and he rattles his birdie putt about eight feet past the cup.
Can he make his sixth three in a row?
Yep.
LOL.
McIlroy -11, Conners -6 (6*)
McIlroy opts for an 8-iron off the 6th tee and he's well short of the pin.
He's in danger of not making a three...
Rose -7, DeChambeau -8 (4)
Big mistake from Rosey. He lags his birdie putt to three feet but misses from there...
It's all going wrong for Justin.
McIlroy -11, Conners -6 (5)
McIlroy finds the heart of the green at the 5th.
Surely he can't find another birdie?
OF COURSE HE CAN.
McIlroy has played the first five holes in 5-under.
He leads the 2025 Masters by THREE.
Scheffler -6,Hatton -4 (6)
Scheffler was in trouble at the 6th but he plays a nice chip to about six feet.
Can he save his par? Yep.
His playing partner Hatton grinds out another par...
Im -6, Day -6 (5)
Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler and Bryson DeChambeau have our attention at the moment.
But there is plenty of golf left to be played and you cannot discount the likes of Jason Day and Sungae Im.
Day started his round on 4-under and has already picked up birdies at the 2nd and 5th.
Rose -8, DeChambeau -8 (3)
Bryson DeChambeau making a bogey at a 350-yard par-4 is not what I had on my bingo card.
But there we go.
McIlroy leads by two...
McIlroy -10, Conners -6 (5*)
Rory is yelling at his golf ball to sit after hitting his tee shot at the 5th. In the air, it looks as though it's heading towards the pine straw. But it's fine...
Fairway.
McIlroy -10, Conners -6 (4)
McIlroy tugs his tee shot at the par-3 4th slightly left and nudges his TP5 towards the hole. It never really had a chance, to be quite honest. Still, that's an easy par.
Can Bryson save his par?
Rose -8, DeChambeau -9 (3*)
Wild tee shot from Bryson. But he gets lucky and a bounce off a patron prevents his golf ball from going further wide.
He punches towards the green but is heavy-handed with his chip and has a lot to do to save par.
McCarty -5 Lowry -6 (4)
Lowry was in an awful position off the tee and pays the price. He chipped to about 13 feet but cannot save par.
Scheffler -6, Hatton -4 (5)
Scheffler left himself six feet to save par at the 5th but slots it home nicely.
Nothing is happening for Tyrrell so far today.
Rose -8, DeChambeau -9 (2)
Justin Rose has a decent chance for birdie at the 2nd but misses.
DeChambeau finds the green in two, because of course he does, and two-putts for a fabulous birdie to move within one of McIlroy.
McIlroy -10 (3)
What is going on?! Birdie-eagle-birdie start for Rory McIlroy. He leads by two.
I make that 9-under for the last 12 holes.
Eagle for the solo lead. #themasterspic.twitter.com/gzdEIgccma
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 12, 2025
Scheffler -6, Hatton -4 (4)
Simple pars for Hatton and Scheffler at the 4th...
McCarty -5, Lowry -7 (3)
Whilst we were all hyperventilating over Rory McIlroy's start, Shane Lowry has made birdie on the first two holes...
Speaking of McIlroy, he has another great birdie look at the 3rd...
Pos | Player | Total | Thru |
1 | Rory McIlroy | -9 | 2 |
T2 | Justin Rose | -8 | 1 |
T2 | Bryson DeChambeau | -8 | 1 |
T4 | Shane Lowry | -7 | 3 |
T4 | Corey Conners | -7 | 2 |
T6 | Jason Day | -6 | 5 |
T6 | Viktor Hovland | -6 | 4 |
T6 | Scottie Scheffler | -6 | 4 |
T9 | Sungjae Im | -5 | 5 |
T9 | Matt McCarty | -5 | 3 |
T11 | Zach Johnson | -4 | F |
T11 | Tyrrell Hatton | -4 | 4 |
Bryson DeChambeau starts his third round with a birdie. #themasterspic.twitter.com/aqtDD9P9Zn
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 12, 2025
Hovland -6 (3)
Viktor joins the 6-under gang, courtesy of his second birdie in a row.
Rose -8 (1)
Quality stuff from Justin. His birdie putt races by but he finds the centre of the cup from eight feet for par.
